An md-11 descending on a visual approach generated a low altitude alert from ATC. The unrecognized e...

Attributes
ACN	916622
Time
Date	201010
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Speedbrake/Spoiler
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60 Flight Crew Total 6600 Flight Crew Type 300
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

VMC visual approach. Speed brakes used in descent. First officer failed to stow speed brakes. I failed to notice. Md-11 has so much power it leveled off and maintained speed without adverse indication. Cleared visual approach tightened distance to runway. Upon reflection; aircraft descended and slowed smoother than expected. We anticipated descending first than slowing due to aerodynamic clean design of md-11. Our target altitude [was] 2;000 ft MSL to stay within class B while slowing. Atl approach called 'low altitude alert' at 2;200 ft MSL. We were aware of all factors except speed brakes at the time. Received 'master caution' upon flap extension and retracted speed brakes. Md-11 had no problems maintaining altitude and speed with speed brakes extended without even a shudder.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD-11 descending on a visual approach generated a Low Altitude Alert from ATC. The unrecognized extension of the speed brakes for an extended period during the descent likely contributed.

Narrative: VMC visual approach. Speed brakes used in descent. First Officer failed to stow speed brakes. I failed to notice. MD-11 has so much power it leveled off and maintained speed without adverse indication. Cleared visual approach tightened distance to runway. Upon reflection; aircraft descended and slowed smoother than expected. We anticipated descending first than slowing due to aerodynamic clean design of MD-11. Our target altitude [was] 2;000 FT MSL to stay within Class B while slowing. ATL Approach called 'Low Altitude Alert' at 2;200 FT MSL. We were aware of all factors except speed brakes at the time. Received 'Master Caution' upon flap extension and retracted speed brakes. MD-11 had no problems maintaining altitude and speed with speed brakes extended without even a shudder.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An md-11 descending on a visual approach generated a low altitude alert from ATC. The unrecognized extension of the speed brakes for an extended period during the descent likely contributed.